Politics

Mattel drops bizarre ‘Coffee with Ken’ podcast trademark challenge — on condition it doesn’t discuss toys

Mattel drops bizarre ‘Coffee with Ken’ podcast trademark challenge — on condition it doesn’t discuss toys

The host of the popular political podcast “Coffee with Ken” has prevailed in a bizarre legal skirmish with toy giant Mattel, which is dropping allegations he violated its trademark for the Ken doll from its “Barbie” franchise, The Post has learned.

Mattel’s equally bizarre condition for settling the case: that “Coffee with Ken” host Ken Biberaj — who typically welcomes guests like Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and billionaire David Rubinstein — doesn’t talk about toys.

Specfically, Mattel insisted the show not include talk about “toys, dolls” or “fictional characters based on toys or dolls” in exchange for dropping its opposition to the host’s bid to trademark his five-year old show, according to an Oct. 14 filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The podcast must continue to cater to an “adult audience,” according to the USPTO filing.

Biberaj, a Washington, DC-based real estate executive and former chair of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, gladly agreed to the terms to avoid “further drama” and end the six-month dispute, which was first reported by The Post.

The show “was never about dolls, toys or the beach,” Biberaj told The Post. “It’s always been about real conversation with real people.”

Mattel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based company previously claimed “it’s highly likely that a consumer will believe that [“Coffee with Ken”] could be the name of or related to a Ken line” of dolls.

Mattel had pointed to its Ken Barista doll in particular — a hipster with a man bun and apron who pulls perfect espresso shots.

Mattel filed its objection to Biberaj’s trademark application in May, insisting “Coffee with Ken” would “damage” the brand that got a huge boost from the blockbuster “Barbie” movie in which Ryan Gosling played a singing, rollerblading version of the title character’s perpetual paramour.